ECA Blog

The brain is the only organ not fully formed at birth. Over the span of the first three years of life, trillions of connections are being made between brain cells. Research shows that both a child’s relationships and experiences directly influence how his brain grows in the earliest years. Young children learn best through meaningful everyday experiences, alongside an adult they care for and trust. Children are born ready to learn and to seek and form relationships with others around him.

Play during the first year, and even beyond, revolves around exploration and meaningful experiences, which means it is important that you are a part of your baby’s play. It could be as simple as cooing back and forth with baby, a game of peek-a-boo, singing to your baby, or holding a rattle for baby to swat at and reach for. You will soon find that the most fun and beneficial playtime involve you and baby interacting and will include very simple toys, if any. A baby’s favorite toy is you.

The Better Baby Care Indiana (BBCI) focuses attention on the issues to improve the policies that govern the quality of care for infants and toddlers. The primary focus of this campaign is parent education, family support, and child care provider training that supports healthy, safe and developmentally appropriate care for infants and toddlers.

When it comes to safe sleep related advice, there are four simple tips that truly can be lifesaving. By following these tips through baby’s first year of life, you can at least feel a little less worried about one thing, knowing your baby is sleeping safely.

Baby sleeps on his or her back. The back position has been proven safest; babies should sleep in this position for naps and nighttime sleep. They have also proven that babies are less likely to choke if they are on their backs than sides or stomachs.

Baby sleeps on a firm surface in a crib or Pack-n-Play. Baby is not safe sleeping in other equipment, such as a bouncer seat, car seat or swing. Babies can overheat or get into low oxygen situations in these devices. To see if your crib is meeting new safety standards visit the cpsc.gov information page on Check Your Crib for Safety

Baby sleeps with no loose blankets, toys, bumper pads, positioning wedges, or pillows. These objects can get in the way of baby’s breathing and cause him/her to get into low oxygen or suffocating situations.

Baby sleeps in your room but not in your bed. Put baby in a crib or Pack-n-Play next to your bed. You can easily feed, change or check on baby while keeping safety first. Adult beds are unsafe for babies and can cause them to get into low oxygen or suffocating situations.

Learn More about the problem and the risk factors and take action to reduce the risk.